Poole Forge Wedding Photography

August 16, 2016

HISTORIC POOLE FORGE WEDDING

When a dear childhood friend calls and asks you if you?d come to Pennsylvania to photograph her wedding – you jump at the chance to say yes! With a covered bridge, perfect picnicking lawns and gardens and an awesome 1700?s stone mansion, Poole Forge was a beautiful venue for a wedding. It was a DIY wedding – and when I arrived the groom was busy making bouquets. He smiled and laughed, explaining that you can learn a lot from YouTube.

another wedding where dogs were welcome! My kind of party!?

GETTING READY

One of the most emotional moments of the day was witnessing the bride?s father see her in her wedding dress. Waves of joy, pride, and acknowledgement rippled over his face.

Bless the aunt that brings you a bottle of champagne while you sit through hair and make up.?

A quick snip to create the right tendril.?

Lizzie, her sister in law, placed a coin from her family tradition in the bride's yellow shoe.? — Lizzie, her sister in law, placed a coin from her family tradition in the bride’s yellow shoe.?

SELF-UNITING CEREMONY

Preference was to hold the ceremony inside the mansion, as the living room reminded her of her childhood home. It was a terrific decision, as it sprinkled during the afternoon. Galen was walked down the stairway by her father. The guest list was intimate, and everyone fit in standing together in the living room of the house.

They married themselves in a self-uniting ceremony. What?s that? Self-uniting is when a couple are married without the presence of a third-party. Most states don?t acknowledge self-uniting marriage, but Pennsylvania (Wisconsin, Colorado and DC too) does. How do you do it? You exchange rings and vows before family and friends in a secular ceremony. How?s that for DIY?

Flashing those baby blues and welcoming the guests, the groom was all smiles.?

TENTED RECEPTION

And then the rains came. Dampening no one?s spirits. The guests gathered for an amazing vegetarian Indian meal, toasts and dancing. The light in historic homes is so scrumptious, and this place was no exception.

Tara and Lizzie, in the black blazers, were all business on the dance floor.?

Even the celebratory and happy moment in your life and tinged with sadness when they happen without someone important. Sadly, I?ve had many clients over the years who aren?t able to have one or more of their parents at their wedding day. Though there are many ways to incorporate the memory and honor those who can?t be with you.

The bride had found and quietly taken her mother?s wedding dress before she passed away. It fit her like the proverbial glove. She slipped out of the reception and returned in her mother’s green (it was the 1970s!) dress. Looking so much like her mother, it sent chills down the arms and tears down the cheeks as her father and her brother and her aunts and uncles felt her presence.